§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has considered the representations from the Secretary of the West Ham Trades Council about rent officers in the London Borough of Newham basing rents of slum and other properties on scarcity values, and, as this is contrary to the Rent Act, 1965, what action he proposes to take; and what was the nature of his reply to this communication.
Mr. MacColl: Under Section 27 of the Rent Act, 1965 rent officers are required to deduct any value created by scarcity when fixing a fair rent. My right hon. Friend has no reason to believe that rent officers are not complying with 351W this provision. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply to the letter he mentions.